Trade catalog:Choosing toys wisely : the right toy for the right time

Many of the toys listed in "Choosing Toys Wisely," a 1935 trade catalog from Childhood Interests, Inc., are strikingly similar to ones sold for children in the 21st century. Many of the child-rearing theories still employed today originated in the 1930s. After World War I, a strong social interest in children, combined with the creation of child psychology as an academic specialty, led to an increase in the number of child-development experts. Promoting research-based advice, these experts relied upon the era's fascination with anything scientific to shape public attitudes. Playtime warranted much of the new attention. Because toys became not merely amusements but also tools for developing children's motor and social skills, parents now felt an obligation to buy such toys. Childhood Interests developed "Right-Time Toys," a series of playthings designed for the specific needs of different age groups. The Cradle Spin allowed newborns to work leg and back muscles, while the Toddler Cart encouraged older children to interact with others by pulling a cart around.